Dendritic architecture of nucleus ambiguus motoneurons projecting to the upper alimentary tract in the rat.

The motor innervation for palatal, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and esophageal muscles originates within the nucleus ambiguus. Although the viscerotopic organization of the upper alimentary tract in the nucleus ambiguus has been extensively studied, little information concerning the dendritic arborization of nucleus ambiguus motoneurons is available. The neural tracer cholera toxin-horseradish peroxidase, which is particularly effective at revealing dendrites of retrogradely labeled neurons, was used to determine the dendritic architecture and organization of nucleus ambiguus motoneurons. In 72 rats, cholera toxin-horseradish peroxidase in volumes of 1.0-18 microliters was directly applied under pressure to the musculature of various sites along the upper alimentary tract. Motoneurons innervating the soft palate, pharynx, cricothyroid muscle, and cervical esophagus were all found to have extensive dendrites that extended into the adjacent reticular formation with a distinct pattern for each muscle group. In contrast, the dendrites of motoneurons innervating the thoracic and subdiaphragmatic esophagus were confined to the compact formation of the nucleus ambiguus. Dendritic bundling within the confines of the nucleus ambiguus was prominent following injection of tracer into the soft palate, pharynx, and esophagus. The bundles were primarily oriented in a rostrocaudal direction. These data suggest that the extensive extranuclear dendritic arborization of motoneurons innervating the soft palate, pharynx, larynx, and cervical esophagus provide a wide ranging target for multiple central afferents that may be involved in the differential control of muscles that participate in multiple complex motor functions. The lack of extensive extranuclear dendrites of motoneurons innervating the distal esophagus suggest that they receive focused central afferents. The prominent bundling of dendrites within the nucleus ambiguus may provide for synchronization of motoneurons innervating a specific muscle and perhaps for synchronization of motoneurons innervating different muscles acting in sequence.